Cuomo’s not buying what IDC is selling on abortion bill

Gov. Andrew Cuomo today make a final plea to Senate leadership to hold a vote on an abortion-rights bill and knocked the Independent Democratic Conference for trying to garner votes through a petition drive.

The four member IDC is under pressure to hold the vote, and they are trying to garner the 32 votes needed for passage by trying to get senators to sign a pledge to support the measure.

Cuomo said the idea is bunk. He said the Senate should hold the vote, and senators should have to put their position on the record.

“I don’t agree with that,” Cuomo said on “The Capitol Pressroom,” a public-radio show. “That says we’ll take a vote if we have enough supporters. The point of taking the vote is making people say they’re in opposition. There’s two questions: Who supports it? And the second question is who opposes it?”

Cuomo said the public has a right to know where senators stand on abortion. The abortion piece is the most contentious part of Cuomo’s 10-point women’s agenda, which is set for passage in the Democratic-led Assembly, but faces uncertainty in the Senate.

“Just tell us your position. It’s an important issue,” Cuomo said. “It is an issue that has been roundly debated for years. We just want your position. Just stand up and be counted.”